Die Tage waren gezählt

Die Tage waren gezählt (The Days Were Counted) is dedicated to artist's books and magazines- most of them self-published-that were produced in the GDR and eastern Germany between 1980 and 1995. An exhibition and accompanying publication bring out various aspects of this topic, which is being comprehensively examined in a museum setting for the first time. They also provide a profound insight into a part of the unique collection of the Brandenburg State Museum of Modern Art (BLMK), with its outstanding holdings of artist's books and magazines. The focus is on publications, mostly produced in niches parallel to the official art system in the GDR. They combine literature, painting, original print graphics, and photography. These very limited editions are often conceived as "portable exhibitions" that can be distributed and received individually or collectively. Of key importance is the intertwining of individual artistic work and collective production processes in order to build communities and social visions that go beyond the existing realities. Peter Böthig is a research associate at HU Berlin; he was co-editor of the artist's magazine Schaden. Sylvia Claus is Professor of Art History in the Institute for Building History and Art History at BTU Cottbus. Anna Horakova is Assistant Professor of German at the University of Connecticut. Ulrike Kremeier is director of BLMK in Cottbus and Frankfurt (Oder). Caroline Kühne is curator of painting, graphic art, and sculpture at BLMK. Isotta Poggi is curator of photography and artist's books at the Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Christoph Tannert is director of Künstlerhaus Bethanien.